Local Government Strengthens Procurement Standards and Economic Progress in Buvuma District

Officers from Ministry of Local Government are in Buvuma district for two days to support their counterparts to improve procurement service delivery standards.

Mr. Musingunzi Johnson the assistant commissioner procurement at Ministry of Local Government advised the district team to always refer the correct PPDA regulations when making procurement decisions.

He said that contract committees decisions should include status of the taxes at the stage of awarding the contracts. ” IT should be clearly stated whether the award is taxes exclusive or inclusive” he said.

The MOLG team also advised the Buvuma procurement officers to always report to the accounting officer or the chief administrative officers all the micro procurements done by the user departments .

The district also has to come up with a plan for disposal of public assets following the guidelines of the PPDA regulations 2023.

Isa Mbooge the Chief Administrative officer(CAO) for Buvuma Island noted that the conditions in the Islands pose challenges in executing some contracts and such places should be considered on a case by case basis.

“Contractors have to transport building materials by boat. One day in 2023 a boat capsised, six people died and all materials were lost. So when a contractor quotes a higher fee to construct a school compared to the one on the main land, these are issues that should be considered.” he added.

Mr. Mbooge also appealed to public service, health service commission and especially the education service commission to consider recruiting people with qualifications who have been working as voluteers within the district.

” We have teachers who have been teaching without salary. These have been tested and can withstand the conditions on the Island” he said.

He explained that some civil servants including teachers are recruited but they refuse to work in Buvuma.

As soon as they access the pay roll, they want to be transfered.

The CAO appreciated the changes in procurement from district tender boards to the electronic procurement systems that is now being used.

These procurement system has gotten rid of midiocrity because all the systems are now interlinked.

Buvuma district is located in Lake victoria, with a population 110,000 people.

It’s only accessible by boats and a ferry from Kiyindi in buikwe district. Main economic activity is fishing, agriculture especially oil palm trees.

The oil palm project in buvuma Island:

So far the project has planted 2500 hectáres of oil palm trees. Government intends to expand to 5000 hectares but they are still delayed by issues of land compensation.

The oil palm project has greatly improved the economy of the 53 islands in the district.

The project has improved household incomes, local revenue taxes, created employment opportunities for the youth and women.

Management through corporate social responsibility contributed to the construction of a modern ferry and they also lend equipment the district to maintain roads.

The number of tourists has also increased. Criminal rates have reduced due to increased security and the youth are fully occupied in income generating activities.

According to Sserunjogi Wilson the senior assistant CAO and project cordinator,

“You need land near a reliable water source, enough sunshine, fertilizers ad an expert to guide you on how to plant the trees.” “In one acre, you plant 60 palm trees which is an investment of 1.2 million.

You can earn 6 to 7 million during the harvest season. The trees surfocate the weeds thus reducing costs of weeding”. he said.